Rumor had it Marcus was cold as ice, completely uninterested in women. Yet, yesterday, in his office, he took me, not once, not twice, but *eight times*. I naively thought he’d finally accepted me, his ordinary wife. But the moment he was done, he vanished without a trace. He disappeared for twenty whole days. Later, as I knelt sobbing at my father’s tombstone, my husband was holding the wedding of the century. But the bride wasn’t me. It was Serena, his beloved “sister,” who only survived because she stole *my* kidney. A cold realization washed over me. This entire marriage had been a sham from the very beginning. If that’s how it is, then I’ll grant you your wish. I sent him a text: “Let’s get a divorce. See you at the courthouse at 9 AM the day after tomorrow!” To my surprise, he replied instantly. “Okay.” That single, light word utterly shattered my heart. Our mismatched marriage, doomed from the start by our different worlds, had finally reached its end. The person he loved had never been me. I thought back to six months ago, the first time he’d shown a vulnerable side. “Scarlett, if you were the only one who could save me, would you be willing to pay any price?” I stroked his face, answering without hesitation, “Of course. You’re my husband. I’d do anything for you.” He then asked, “What if it’s for my sister?” “Your sister is my sister. We’re family, and I’d help her just the same.” He suddenly looked up, his eyes intense. “My sister needs your kidney. Are you really willing to donate it?” I froze. He saw my hesitation, and tears instantly welled in his eyes. “Didn’t you just say you’d do anything for me? Turns out you were lying to me too!” He pulled away from my embrace, shoving me away. “You only married me for my status and wealth, you gold-digger, you social climber!” Watching him lose control, my heart twisted in pain. Finally, I nodded. “Okay, I promise.” I didn’t know how long I’d been kneeling before my father’s tombstone. It wasn’t until dusk began to fall that I finally prepared to leave. But at the cemetery gates, I ran into the two people I least wanted to see. My soon-to-be ex-husband, Marcus Shen, and his so-called “sister,” Serena Wen. Serena was Marcus’s childhood friend, but he’d always told me she was just a neighbor’s kid. It was only recently that I discovered this “sister” identity was nothing but a smokescreen. “Marcus, it’s so sweet of you to come with me to see Misty. Thank you so much.” Her familiar voice reached me, and I instinctively looked up. Misty was a purebred Ragdoll cat I’d rescued from a pet clinic. She was filthy and had a broken leg back then. After I nursed her back to health, I named her Misty, a quiet whisper for new beginnings, for hope. I never imagined that one day, when Serena visited our home, she’d burst into tears at the sight of Misty. Apparently, Misty looked exactly like her lost beloved cat. One evening, not long after, I came home to find Misty gone. Marcus said he’d given the cat to Serena. I had a huge fight with Marcus then, but he simply accused me of being unreasonable. Later, seeing how genuinely Serena cared for Misty, I gradually put my mind at ease. And yet, here they were, chatting and laughing effortlessly in the cemetery. The moment my eyes met Marcus’s, all tenderness vanished from his face, replaced by pure disgust and contempt. “Scarlett Lin, are you stalking me?” At this absurd accusation, I couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. “Mr. Marcus, you’re quite the comedian. I have far better things to do than stalk you.” He narrowed his eyes, a sneer twisting his lips. “Really? This isn’t the first time you’ve pulled this stunt. Don’t think I don’t know your little games.” “What, did you come here early to pick out a grave for your father? Or are you trying to use his illness to gain sympathy again?” “Last week, I contacted the best specialists. They all said your father could fully recover if he actively cooperated with treatment.” I turned to leave, unwilling to humor his sarcastic remarks. “Think whatever you want.” My indifference seemed to infuriate him. He grabbed my wrist, his voice laced with icy coldness: “I heard you bought your father an exorbitant critical illness policy? No wonder you kept preventing him from getting treatment. Scarlett, you’re quite the schemer, aren’t you?” That sentence ignited my fury. I violently yanked my hand free, the force making him stumble back. Serena quickly caught him. “Scarlett Lin! You crazy woman, how dare you lay hands on Marcus!” Serena shrieked, pointing a finger at me. In the past, I always chose to silently endure their humiliation. But now, I wouldn’t let anyone slander my father. “Marcus Shen, you can trample on my dignity, but don’t you dare try to tarnish the bond between my father and me!” I turned to Serena. “And you, Serena Wen, aren’t you perfectly alive and well right now?” “If it weren’t for *my* kidney, you’d be lying in this cemetery right now! Stop with the innocent act, you fake saint!” Marcus’s face instantly darkened. He snapped his fingers behind him. “Bodyguards! Make her kneel and apologize!” Several men in black suits advanced towards me, but Serena suddenly interjected, “Wait!” She clutched Marcus’s arm, feigning tenderness. “Marcus, don’t get upset over a woman like this. It’s bad for your health.” Sure enough, Marcus immediately calmed down, waving off his bodyguards. “Scarlett Lin, this is your final warning. If you cause any more trouble, don’t blame me if I revoke your father’s medical expenses too.” Watching their retreating figures, walking hand-in-hand, the setting sun stretched their silhouettes long and distorted, like a cruel, jagged sword piercing through the last flicker of warmth in my soul. I gazed at the darkening sky, my voice filled with an unprecedented resolve: “Marcus Shen, 9 AM the day after tomorrow, courthouse. Consider these three years of marriage a time I was utterly blind.”
I hurried out of the cemetery, the night wind scattering the tears from my eyes. As I walked down the street, three years of memories flooded back like a tide. I remembered the first time I met Marcus. It was a rainy night, and I was an intern waitress at a Michelin-starred restaurant. Near closing time, a man, soaked to the bone, pushed open the glass door. He was impeccably dressed in a suit, but he looked utterly disheveled and miserable. I should have politely turned away a customer at that hour, but something in his eyes softened my resolve. “I’m sorry to bother you, but could I get a hot coffee?” His voice was pleasant, carrying a hint of exhaustion. I led him to a seat by the fireplace and brought him the last slice of tiramisu and a hot Americano. Not long after, I heard muffled sobs. “Are you alright?” I offered him a tissue. He looked up, tears blurring his handsome face. “My father kicked me out of the house.” Looking at his exquisite features, my heart unexpectedly fluttered. I thought it was just a typical family spat that would soon blow over. Only later did I realize how wrong I was. That night, he talked to me about many things, staying until dawn before he left. Before walking out, he asked, “Can I come back tomorrow to talk to you again?” Seeing the hopeful glint in his eyes, I found myself nodding, almost against my will. And so, he began to frequent the restaurant. Each time, he was the last customer, always ordering the same coffee and dessert. He spoke softly, his manners elegant. Gradually, I fell into the tender trap he’d woven. Until that day, when he pointed to my intern name tag and said, “Scarlett, do you believe that this restaurant is actually my family’s business?” I chuckled, teasing him, “Mr. Marcus, your storytelling skills are truly exceptional.” “Don’t believe me?” He pulled out his phone, pointing to a business news article. “See who this is?” I froze. The heir to the powerful Shen Group, featured in the news, was indeed the man sitting before me. “Actually, I wasn’t kicked out. I left on my own.” His eyes darkened. “My father wanted me to enter an arranged marriage, but I didn’t want to sacrifice myself to marry a woman I didn’t even know.” “Meeting you was the greatest stroke of luck.” He took my hand. “Scarlett, I have an unusual request…” Watching his hesitant expression, my heart melted. “I need a marriage. That way, my father can’t force me into an arranged marriage anymore.” My heart plummeted. “Are you saying…” He leaned in close, his warm breath caressing my ear. “I want to marry you, Scarlett.” In that moment, all my rationality was swept away. Later, we met his family. His family surprisingly didn’t object, even buying us a beautiful lakeside villa. But we never officially registered our marriage. I started to feel a profound unease. How could an ordinary girl like me be worthy of the Shen family heir? Finally, one late night, I packed my bags and fled back to my hometown. But the very next day, he followed me. “Why did you run? The moment I found you gone, my world fell apart.” He traveled two thousand miles, desperate to find me. I tried to explain, but he simply kissed me, silencing my words. Then he pulled me to City Hall. The sun shone brightly that day, bathing our marriage certificate in a golden glow. If only I had known it was all a meticulously planned deception… If only I had known I was nothing but a pawn in his game… If only I had known his heart had never truly belonged to me… Perhaps, I wouldn’t have hurt so much. I sat in the darkened living room, my fingers tracing the worn cover of my father’s old notebook. “Dad, you were right. We truly belong to different worlds.” “Like a moth to a flame, I was bound to get burned.” I pressed my necklace to my chest, as if seeking my father’s forgiveness. My signature on the divorce papers was already dry. All that was missing was Marcus’s final stroke, and this farce could finally end. Night fell, and the sound of laughter echoed from the villa’s doorway. Their joyous voices pierced my eardrums, a stark contrast to the deadly silent living room. Marcus pushed open the door. The moment he saw me, the smile froze on his lips. His gaze flickered in the darkness, then settled into an expression of disgust. “What? You can’t even afford to turn on the lights? Are you too poor to pay the electricity bill?” Then he tossed a beautifully wrapped box at me. “A new Hermès Birkin, global limited edition.” “Remember to pair it with the Cartier jewelry set I bought you. Don’t embarrass me out there.” This was his usual routine. Every time we had an argument, he’d send me a luxury item, as if offering a peace offering. But this time, I suddenly had no desire to play along. I picked up the documents from the coffee table and flung them directly at his face. “Sign it.”
The papers slipped from his grasp, scattering across the floor. When Marcus saw the contents of the agreement, his expression instantly twisted into a sneer. “Scarlett Lin, what is this supposed to mean?” I met his gaze with cold eyes. “Can’t you read English? Sign it!” I tossed the pen in front of him. “Don’t waste my time. Sign it and get out.” His anger dissipated in an instant, replaced by a playful smirk. “I get it,” he said, a dismissive laugh escaping him. “Did your father put you up to this?” “Trying to threaten me with divorce, hoping I’ll soften up?” He began to pace. “That trick is so old.” “If you want something, just tell me directly instead of playing these games. If you’re short on cash, just ask my assistant. Why go through all this trouble?” “Scarlett Lin, this is my last warning. Don’t play your little game of push and pull. You know I despise that.” He glanced towards the kitchen. “Go prepare dinner. Serena will be here soon, and remember, she prefers mild dishes.” I scoffed, nudging the divorce papers on the floor towards him with my foot. “Marcus Shen, are you seriously that dense, or are you just playing dumb? I want a divorce!” “What did you say?” “Di-vorce!” I repeated, enunciating each syllable. Suddenly, a cold laugh echoed from behind me. Serena had appeared in the living room without me noticing. She shoved me aside. “You ungrateful bitch, I’ve been too good to you!” “Marcus lets you live in a mansion, drive a limited-edition sports car, even your current job was arranged by him. How dare you speak to him with such disrespect?” “Get on your knees and apologize to Marcus!” I stumbled a few steps, my lower back slamming against the coffee table, a dull ache blooming instantly. Once, I would have silently endured such humiliation. But today, I wouldn’t take it anymore.
🌟 Continue the story here 👉🏻 📲 Download the “NovelMaster” app 🔍 search for “298883”, and watch the full series ✨! #NovelMaster #浪漫Romance #现实主义Realistic
Leave a Reply